Thursday
November 12
2020

Viewpoint: Level the Playing Field for Science in the Global South

By Nyovani Madise

The current COVID-19 emergency demonstrates, if more evidence were needed, how interconnected the world is, and how vital it is for scientists to continue to work together across national and regional boundaries. Despite the economic, political and social impacts of the crisis, this World Science Day for Peace and Development we should reflect on the progress made in global development as a result of scientific cooperation.

In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), we have seen a great increase in productivity and in the quality of research and innovation. These include major multi-country clinical trials and advances in health, mobile technology and data sharing, and the spread of affordable, sustainable energy technologies.

This progress has been pushed forward by the Sustainable Development Goals, agreed by all countries in 2015 as a “shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future”. Countries have chosen which of the 17 SDGs to focus on, and this has created coalitions of shared interest around these goals.

Photo courtesy of MegaPixl.

Source: SciDev.Net SS Africa (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Health Care
Tags
global development